Industry News
Crash Verdict Hits Tesla Hard
A Florida jury has ordered Tesla to pay $242 million in damages after concluding that the automaker’s Autopilot feature was partly responsible for a deadly crash in 2019.
The crash occurred in Key Largo, Florida, when a Tesla Model S driven by George McGee slammed into a parked Chevrolet SUV. Naibel Benavides Leon, a 22-year-old college student standing near the SUV, was killed, and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, was seriously injured.
After a three-week trial in Miami, jurors found Tesla’s driver-assistance system contributed to the accident. They ruled that Tesla held 33% of the responsibility, while McGee, who had reportedly taken his eyes off the road to retrieve a dropped phone, bore the rest. McGee had already settled with the victims for an undisclosed amount.
The verdict awarded $200 million in punitive damages, $59 million in compensatory damages to Leon’s family, and $70 million to Angulo. With Tesla held accountable for only a third of the compensatory damages, the final figure payable by Tesla totals approximately $242 million.
Lawyers representing the victims argued that Tesla misrepresented the capabilities of its Autopilot system, which led to overreliance by drivers. The system failed to react to a stop sign and flashing red light at a T-intersection where the crash happened. Data presented at trial showed the vehicle was moving at 62 mph just before impact.
Tesla, through its legal team, denied responsibility and announced plans to appeal the verdict. The company claimed the driver overrode Autopilot by keeping his foot on the accelerator and failed to maintain attention to the road. Tesla also pointed to warnings in its user manuals that Autopilot still requires active driver supervision.
The case marks the first federal jury trial involving a fatal crash tied to Autopilot and is seen as a significant blow to Tesla’s claims of safety leadership in autonomous driving. Tesla said the verdict could delay industry progress on life-saving technologies, while plaintiffs argued the crash was preventable and underscored serious flaws in Tesla’s software and marketing.
Angulo, emotional after the verdict, said, “We did it for Naibel.”
The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) has received a Mitsubishi Strada Athlete pickup from Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) to support the DUNONG Nutri-Nurture project, part of a joint initiative tackling both learning poverty and child malnutrition in Laguna.
The donation was formalized through a Deed of Donation and Vehicle Turnover Ceremony held at the MMPC plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, on September 16, 2025. The event gathered officials from both institutions led by MMPC Chairman Noriaki Hirakata and President and CEO Ritsu Imaeda, along with UPLB Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Janette Malata-Silva, who represented Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr.
The DUNONG Program — short for Department of Education–Laguna–University of the Philippines Los Baños Nurturing Opportunities for the Next Generation Towards Ending Learning Poverty in the Philippines — addresses two crucial issues among children: low reading comprehension and poor nutrition. Through its Nutri-Nurture component, the program combines literacy and feeding interventions to help children learn better and live healthier.
In his remarks, Hirakata underscored MMPC’s long-standing commitment to education and nation-building. “Today’s turnover is a symbol of partnership that brings together the strengths of industry and academia to support the growth of knowledge, innovation, and national progress,” he said.
President Imaeda echoed this sentiment, describing the initiative as part of Mitsubishi’s broader mission to uplift Filipino communities. “At Mitsubishi Motors, our goal goes beyond producing quality vehicles. We aim to be a trusted partner in nation-building — driving change on the road, in schools, and in the lives of Filipinos,” he added.
UPLB’s Malata-Silva expressed gratitude to MMPC for its support, calling the Strada Athlete “a vital tool” that would enable the university’s teams to reach more schools and communities. She said the collaboration demonstrates how corporate social responsibility and academic service can merge to create lasting change.
The Strada Athlete, known for its durability and versatility, will be used to deliver supplies, meals, and materials for DUNONG’s community activities. Project leaders from the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food (IHNF) said the vehicle will greatly expand the program’s reach in the province.
With this partnership, MMPC reaffirms its commitment not only to mobility but also to empowering communities through education and nutrition.
After more than three decades as Honda’s biggest dealership partner in the Philippines, the Ayala Group is stepping away from the brand’s retail operations.
In a joint statement, Ayala’s automotive arm ACMobility and Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) confirmed that nine dealerships under Ayala’s Iconic Dealership, Inc. (IDI) will be turned over to new principals starting January 1, 2026. These include flagship branches in Makati, Pasig, Shaw, Bacoor, Cebu, Mandaue, Iloilo, Negros, and Cagayan de Oro.
IDI will continue running the showrooms until December 31, 2025, ensuring customers with reservations and service appointments face no disruption. HCPI said the incoming dealers are equally committed to maintaining Honda’s after-sales support, warranty coverage, and customer care.
The Ayala-Honda partnership began in 1990 with the opening of Honda Cars Makati, the Japanese carmaker’s very first dealership in the country. Since then, Ayala grew into the brand’s largest dealer group nationwide, moving over 220,000 units as of August 2025.
“We thank Ayala for their invaluable contribution over the past 35 years,” said HCPI President Rie Miyake. “As we welcome new dealer principals, we remain focused on delivering excellence, innovation, and advancing Honda’s goals of electrification and carbon neutrality.”
For ACMobility, the exit reflects a shift in priorities. “This transition allows us to optimize our portfolio and focus on new growth areas,” said Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, ACMobility CEO. “We continue to invest in sustainable mobility and electrification to benefit communities, businesses, and the environment.”
The move follows Ayala’s recent withdrawal from Volkswagen and Maxus distribution. Today, ACMobility’s portfolio leans heavily on BYD, the Chinese EV leader, as well as Kia and Isuzu dealerships, EV charging infrastructure, and Bosch Car Service operations.
Honda, meanwhile, retains about 30 other dealerships not under Ayala’s management. Analysts say the realignment gives Honda a chance to refresh its local dealer network while Ayala doubles down on its electric future.
For longtime Honda fans, the shift may feel symbolic. The Ayala name has been tied to Honda since the Civic, City, and CR-V became household staples. Yet as both companies now navigate electrification, they part ways on the same road to future mobility.
Shell Pilipinas closed its 2025 Mekaniko League with a full-house finals at Le Pavillon in Pasay City on September 30, capping a nationwide search for top car and motorcycle mechanics. The program gathered more than 2,000 participants from 26 provinces across two tracks: Shell Helix Auto Mekaniko Champions for car mechanics and Shell Advance Masters for motorcycle mechanics.
From March to September, Shell held 20 regional events for motorcycle mechanics and six for car mechanics. Each stop mixed competition with training through Shell-led sessions and TESDA-certified modules that prepared participants for NC I and NC II assessments. Semi-finalists went through written exams, parts identification, and live repair tests before advancing to the Grand Finale.
Quezon City’s Mark Anthony Calimag won the national title for the Helix Auto Mekaniko Champions, with R-Jay Alvarez in second and Manny Basong in third. On the motorcycle side, Caloocan’s Charlie Sandoval took the Advance Masters crown, followed by Norman Cabal and Joefel Foronda, with Joevanne Sayat and Allen Kenneth Rañon rounding out the Top 5.
Winners received 200,000 pesos each and an all-expenses-paid MotoGP trip to Malaysia. The Top 5 car mechanics and Top 3 motorcycle mechanics also earned slots on the MotoGP trip to learn from world-level racing teams.
Shell executives said the league is as much about livelihood as it is about trophies. The company partnered with TESDA to standardize skills training and raise shop-level service quality across communities. “The Mekaniko League is one of Shell Pilipinas’ key programs that highlights the skills and dedication of Filipino mechanics,” said Jackie Famorca, Vice President and General Manager for Lubricants at Shell Pilipinas Corporation. TESDA assessor Brian Landicho added that programs like this help mechanics adapt to the fast-changing auto industry.
Launched in 2024 with a handful of runs, the Mekaniko League has grown into a national platform that recognizes shop professionals who keep vehicles roadworthy and families safe. Shell says it will continue the league while strengthening skills-building efforts through its Shell Helix and Shell Advance communities.
